City of Sheboygan Brings Lack of Integrity to Federal Court and Gets Reprimanded

The City of Sheboygan had a tough week in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. This site has expressed frustration with a lack of ethics, integrity, and professionalism while dealing with the city.

The City Attorney’s office has refused to address elements of open records requests or failed to respond to specific questions, violating open records laws and daring residents to take legal action to compel them to share information they are legally required to disclose.

Their lack of ethics, integrity, and professionalism did not fare well in Magistrate Judge Duffin’s federal courtroom.

In a scathing response to the Pelishek v. Sheboygan case, the federal magistrate accused the City of Sheboygan and their legal team of “frequently misrepresenting legal authority.”

Federal Magistrate Duffin stated:

“For present purposes, the court will presume that these misrepresentations were mere errors of the sort that no attorney or lawyer is above. But counsel should be diligent to ensure that these types of mistakes do not recur.”

A Federal Magistrate calls out the City of Sheboygan for “frequently misrepresenting legal authority.”

Can the City and its legal team do anything more concerning than lying in federal court?

Another Potential Integrity Issue in Second Lawsuit

For the most recent information regarding the Pelishek lawsuit, click here.

In a response from former City Administrator Todd Wolf’s attorney in a second case, there are accusations that the City and their legal team ignored directives from the same federal magistrate and agreements from a March 4 meeting between both sides, moderated by the federal magistrate.

Wolf’s attorney cites multiple examples of the City changing the wording and disregarding items that were agreed upon. This is evidence of a morally bankrupt City Attorney’s office that believes it can do whatever it wants, with disregard for the law or others involved.

A scathing reprimand from a federal magistrate for misrepresenting the law.

Allegedly breaking agreements between lawyers and disregarding directives from a federal magistrate.

When is enough going to be enough?

The federal magistrate will rule on the response by Wolf’s attorney.

Download the latest on Wolfe’s lawsuit here.

It looks like the court will order the City to turn over all communications between City Attorney Adams and the lawyers from von Briesen & Roper who conducted the investigation into Todd Wolf.

TBS has many questions about the bill the City paid for what was called an impartial and independent investigation.

Why did von Briesen & Roper bill you, the taxpayer, for:

A meeting with Mayor Sorenson and City Attorney Chuck Adams on February 3, 2023, for a telephone conference on the report
A meeting with City Attorney Chuck Adams on February 8, 2023, for a telephone conference regarding final terms of the report

How was there this level of collaboration on finalizing an independent and impartial investigation?

Link to Hall Investigation Invoice Here

Does this sound independent and impartial to you?

The City has to turn these communications over because of the actions of the City Attorney’s office and Mayor Sorenson.

The City Attorney’s office shared information on the report into former Administrator Todd Wolf. Mayor Sorenson shared that Wolf may have violated policies.

Wolf’s attorney stated in the latest response that a privilege holder “cannot be allowed, after disclosing as much as he pleases, to withhold the remainder.”

The truth will come out.

The City of Sheboygan has found that its lack of ethics and integrity do not play well in federal courts.

Are they protecting you, the taxpayer, from legal costs?

How does the current City Attorney’s office limit the legal risk of your city?

Does the City Attorney’s office act with Sheboygan’s best interest in mind?

Last week seems to indicate they are not.

The costs will be significant to get out of these legal cases.

You will be the one to pay for this.

Are you ready to do something?

If you have had enough of the dysfunction and lack of legal protection for your tax dollars, send an email to the current City Administrator, Casey Bradley (Casey.Bradley@sheboyganwi.gov) and demand he look into our current City Attorney’s office.

Take Back Sheboygan County knows that many former and current City employees have been reluctant to share their stories for fear of retaliation. If you are one of these, we welcome you to contact us. Your name will not be shared without permission. You can contact us at https://takebacksheboygancounty.com/contact/.

You are the solution! Be part of a movement to improve your community!